On August 20th, 2024, Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, was arrested in France for “complicity in managing an online platform to enable illegal transactions and a refusal to cooperate with law enforcement,” as stated in an official statement by the French authorities.

The arrest has sparked outrage among proponents of free speech. Telegram has long been used by numerous personnel and organizations as a method of completely anonymous messaging, which Telegram implements through a process called end-to-end encryption. This technology ensures that no third party may be able to access the private messages that go through Telegram. Furthermore, Telegram has been used as the main method of communication for Ukrainian soldiers and Hong Kong protestors back in 2019, but it is also used by terrorist groups such as the ISIS or far-right, neo-fascist groups such as the Proud Boys.

Telegram is not a marketplace of ideas, but rather it has offered an unregulated space for dangerous, misleading ideologies to propagate throughout our society. While proponents of free speech argue that Durov’s arrest would hinder efforts to protect free speech in the internet, it is undeniable that Durov knowingly let these misleading and hazardous facts go without moderation.

The FAQ in Telegram’s official website confirms that they “block terrorist (e.g. ISIS-related) bots and channels.”Why not add bots and channels aimed at human trafficking, sexual abuse, and other crimes universially regarded as inhumane to that list? Yes, it is undeniable that freedom of speech is paramount. Even so, Telegram is not an organization promoting free speech: t is a private company, profiting off a subscription model which has made Durov a multimillionaire. Indeed, we should refrain from portraying the CEO of Telegram as a martyr for free speech.